Name: United States History and Government Period: Date: Regents Review #2: Early American Republic, Westward Expansion, Sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction Early American Republic: George Washington- First President of the U.S. and Revolutionary War general. Did not want to become entangled (involved) with European affairs. Issued the Proclamation of Neutrality in order to isolate the U.S. from Europe and keep it independent. Set a precedent (example) for all future presidents by using the unwritten constitution to form the first cabinet (group of close advisers to the President). Whiskey Rebellion- Passage of a new excise tax led to a rebellion in western Pennsylvania. Washington used state militia (army) to put down the rebellion, demonstrating that the new national government intended to enforce federal laws. His actions and policies strengthened the Federal Government. Washington pursued neutrality because he believed the U.S. needed time to gain economic and military strength. Farewell Address- Washington urges the U.S. to avoid European conflicts, stay neutral, and avoid alliances with any other nation of the world. Alexander Hamilton- First Secretary of Treasury of the U.S. - Federalist Proposed a national bank to improve the economic position of the U.S. government. Argued that the government has the power to create a National Bank based on the elastic clause of the Constitution. Established a sound financial plan for the new nation. Devised a plan to pay off U.S. debt. Urged Congress to pass a protective tariff (tax on foreign goods) to encourage the growth of U.S. manufacturing. Believed the government should exercise all powers necessary and proper to meet its responsibilities (loose interpretation of the Constitution). Thomas Jefferson- First Secretary of State of the U.S. Democratic Republican Opposed Hamilton s plan to create a national bank because the plan depended on a loose interpretation of the Constitution. Believed in strict interpretation of the Constitution (you have to follow the Constitution exactly as it is written). Sought to avoid involvement in European affairs (isolationist). Disagreement between Hamilton and Jefferson over the interpretation of the Constitution led to the development of the political party system.
John Adams Second President of the U.S. XYZ Affair - incident in which French officials demanded a bribe from U.S. diplomats. Alien and Seditions Acts a series of four laws enacted in 1798 to reduce the political power of recent immigrants to the United States. Seen as controversial for violating individual s first amendment rights. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (or Resolves) were political statements drafted in 1798 and 1799, in which the Kentucky and Virginia legislatures took the position that the federal Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. Judiciary Act of 1801 a law that increase the number of federal judges, allowing President John Adams to fill most of the new posts with Federalists. Midnight Judge one of the judges appointed by John Adams in the final hours of his presidency. Thomas Jefferson Third President of the United States Authorized the Lewis and Clark expedition in order to explore a route to the Pacific Ocean (helped lead to westward expansion). Louisiana Purchaseo In deciding to purchase the Louisiana Territory, Jefferson had to overcome the problem of contradicting his belief in a strict interpretation of the Constitution. o He used the Elastic Clause and implied powers to make the purchase. o The purchase was made because he was worried about a strong French and Spanish presence and wanted American control of New Orleans which had a valuable port. o Secured U.S. control of the Mississippi River. o Farmers needed a water route to help ship their products to market. o Farmers in the Ohio River Valley gained greatest economic benefit as a result of the purchase. o Focused the U.S. on westward expansion. Embargo Act of 1807 the stopping of trade with the nations of Great Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars. Nationalism/ Sectionalism John Marshall - Chief Justice of the U.S. Decisions as Chief Justice of the U.S. resulted in expansion of the power of Federal Government. Helped create a sense of national unity by strengthening the Federal Government at the expense of State government. Helped make the Constitution more flexible by interpreting the Constitution broadly. Supreme Court Landmark Case Decision Precedent *Marbury v. Madison, 1803 Chief Justice John Marshall Stated that William Marbury should get his job but declared the law that created his position unconstitutional Established judicial review (The right to review a lower court case decision - to declare a law (Congress) or action (President) unconstitutional McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819 Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824 Marshall Court Supported the use of the Necessary and proper clause (elastic clause) Marshall Court Ruled in favor of federal contract to transport goods on the Hudson over a NY contract States cannot tax federal property "The power to tax is the power to destroy Reinforced that federal law is supreme over state law Congress could rule on interstate commerce
James Madison Fourth President of the U.S. Author of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights War of 1812- War between U.S. and Britain over trade in the Atlantic Ocean. o Cause violation of America s Freedom of the Seas and impressment of American ships. o War Hawks- A group of Congressmen from the South and West who supported the War of 1812. o Ended by the Treaty of Ghent Battle of New Orleans took place 15 days after Andrew Jackson emerges as war hero. o Increased American nationalism- the loyalty of a people to their values, traditions, and/or geographic region (intense pride for one s nation or culture). President James Monroe Fifth President of the U.S. Monroe Doctrine (1823)-Foreign policy intended to limit European influence in the Western Hemisphere. o Warned Europe against any further colonization in Latin America. o Resulted from the close geographic relationship between the U.S. and Latin America. o U.S. foreign policy increased enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine during the late 19th and early 20 th century. o Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine - President Theodore Roosevelt would later add to the Monroe Doctrine to make the U.S. the policeman of the Western Hemisphere. Roosevelt s foreign policy was that the Monroe Doctrine permitted the U.S. to intervene actively in the affairs of Latin American nations. President John Quincy Adams Sixth President of the U.S. Corrupt Bargain of 1824 A political scandal that arose when the Speaker of the House, Henry Clay, allegedly met with John Quincy Adams before the House election to break a deadlock. Adams was elected president against the popular vote and Clay was named Secretary of State. American System the policy of promoting industry in the United States by adoption of a high protective tariff and of developing internal improvements by the federal government (as advocated by Henry Clay from 1816 to 1828) o Erie Canal- A waterway connecting Lake Erie to the Hudson River that aided the economic development of the U.S. by lowering the cost of shipping goods from the Midwest to the Atlantic coast. The farmers in the Midwest could ship their goods to merchants in the east who would trade and sell the goods for a larger profit. North East economies (ex, New York, New England) promoted the growth of trade and manufacturing as a result. National Republicans a member of a political party formed in opposition to the Jacksonian Democrats and after being decisively defeated in the presidential election of 1832 fused with other elements to form the Whig party National Republicans Issue Democrats John Q. Adams Leader Andrew Jackson Strong National Government Weak State Governments Role of National Government Weak National Government Strong State Governments Industrial/Manufacturing Economy Agricultural Wealthy, Well Educated, Northerners Supporters Ordinary Citizens, Farmers, and Southerners President Andrew Jackson Seventh President of the U.S. Starting with the election of Jackson in 1828, voter participation increased due to the end of property requirements for voting by many states (White, male U.S. citizens no longer had to own property in order to vote which meant that lower class citizens who could not afford land, gained the opportunity to vote). Used the spoils system to provide jobs to political party supporters. The spoils system resulted in elected officials rewarding their supporters with government jobs. Jackson claimed that the spoils system increased democracy in the federal government because it allowed larger numbers of citizens to hold office. Expanded presidential powers through frequent use of the veto National Bank. Forced Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi River to modern day Oklahoma (the trip became known as the Trail of Tears.
Worcester v. Georgia- Supreme Court ruled in favor of Native Americans who were being forcefully removed from Georgia, but President Andrew Jackson did not enforce the ruling. Tariff of Abominations a protective tariff passed by the Congress in 1828 designed to protect industry in the northern United States and was labeled the Tariff of Abominations by its effects Southern economy. Nullification Crisis South Carolina issued the Ordinance of Nullification, which declared both tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null and void within its boundaries because they believed it was unconstitutional. Westward Expansion Gold Rush 1849 o Resulted in an increase in westward migration. Led to the growth of the populations of California and the western territories. Homestead Act 1862 o Promoted development of western lands by providing free land to settlers. o Demonstrated the federal government s commitment to the settlement of western territories. o Most directly affected the Great Plains. Pacific (Transcontinental Act) Railway Act 1862 o In the second half of the 1800 s, the federal government encouraged the building of transcontinental railroads by giving land to the railroad companies. Manifest Destiny- Idea that the U.S. should possess the entire continent. o Used to support westward expansion of the U.S. to the Pacific Ocean. o Used as an excuse to expand into lands claimed by other nations. o Led to the annexation of Texas, and the Mexican War. During the 1840 s abolitionists (people who wanted to make slavery illegal) opposed annexation of new western territory because they feared the admission of new slave states. o Major Abolitionists- William Lloyd Garrison, Harriet Tubman, Harriet Beecher Stowe o Territorial expansion led to increased tensions over slavery (should the new territories be open to slavery?). President James Polk Eleventh President of the U.S. o Policies involving annexation of Texas, California, and Oregon Territory were all efforts to fulfill the goal of Manifest Destiny. o Stepped down after first term because he accomplished his goal Manifest Destiny o Instigated Mexican-American War acquired Mexican Cession as a result
Sectionalism Missouri Compromise 1820/Compromise of 1850/Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854 o All were efforts to settle disputes over the spread of slavery to the western territories. o The debate was whether new states admitted to the union would be free or slave states. o Rapid migration caused by the discovery of gold in California led to the Compromise. o Popular Sovereignty- The idea that settlers had the right to decide whether slavery would be legal in their new territory or not. Set up by Kansas-Nebraska Act. Dred Scott v. Sanford 1857 o Supreme Court decision which ruled that Congress could not ban slavery in the territories. Plantations o Large farms in the south that used slave labor. o Slavery became more widespread in the South than in the North because geographic factors contributed to the grown to the southern plantation system. o Slavery expanded in the South in the first half of the 1800 s because new inventions led to an increase in cotton production. Bleeding Kansas o Phrase used to describe clashes between proslavery and antislavery groups. Uncle Tom s Cabin o Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. o Book describing slavery that contributed to the start of the Civil War by intensifying Northern dislike of slavery. Underground Railroad o A secret network that aided slaves in escaping slave-owners and reaching free states. o Supported by many abolitionists. United States Civil War Abraham Lincoln is elected and Southern states secede (leave or break away) from the Union, causing a war between the North (Union) and the South (Confederate States). The two major issues dividing the North and South were States rights and the status of slavery.
Reasons for Succession of Southern States- Increasing sectionalism Disagreements over states rights issues (the South felt that the Federal Government did not have the right to abolish slavery in their states). Breakdown of compromise- failure of the Compromise of 1850 1820 and Kansas Nebraska Act. Election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Lincoln made it very clear that he opposed slavery in the new territories. Southerners wanted slavery extended to the new territories so the south could keep enough strength in the Senate to protect Southern interests (slavery). Abraham Lincoln Sixteenth President of the U.S. Believed that sectional differences threatened to destroy the Union. A house divided against itself cannot stand. As the Civil War began, Lincoln stated that his primary goal was to preserve the Union (states remain united). Claimed that the government was a union of people and not of states. Lincoln justified the war by stating that his oath of office required him to defend and preserve the Union. Lincoln expands Presidential powers during wartime o Suspended the writ of habeas corpus (law that prevents a person from being held in jail without just cause) during the Civil War. o Arrested and jailed anti-unionists without giving a reason. o Increased the size of the army without congressional authorization. o Censored some anti-union newspapers and had some editors and publishers arrested. o This demonstrates that restrictions on people s rights may occur during wartime. Emancipation Proclamation o Order issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 (effective Jan. 1863) that declared slaves free in the areas still held by the Confederates. o Major purpose was to help the North win the Civil War because it helped keep England from siding with the South.
Reasons for North (Union) Victory North was better prepared economically to fight the war. North had more human resources and war material. Results (U.S. Civil War) Power of the central government (aka Federal Government) was strengthened over the power of the States. The passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments all led to greater Federal supremacy over the states. Secession was no longer regarded as an option to be exercised by States (States can t try to leave the U.S. anymore). North undergoes rapid economic growth and industrialization because it was stimulated by increased government demand for many products. The North s economic growth during the Civil War was stimulated by increased government demand for many products in order to fight the war (ex: guns, supplies, transportation). Reconstruction Era Reconstruction Era Time period following the Civil War, when the Southern States were reorganized and reintegrated back into the Union. Marked by the military occupation of the South, attempts to remove a President, and major constitutional amendments. Withdrawal of federal troops from the South marked the end of Reconstruction in the U.S. Compromise of 1877 Lincoln s Plan for Reconstruction Primary goal was to restore Southern representation in Congress. The Union should be restored as quickly as possible. Which could only happen if.. The former Confederate States are treated as if they had never actually left the Union. Reject the idea of harsh punishments for the South. Forgive the Southerners and welcome them back into the Union. Radical Republicans Group of Republicans that wanted harsh punishments for the South. Opposed Lincoln s plan for Reconstruction because the plan offered amnesty (official forgiveness) to nearly all Confederates who would swear allegiance to the U.S. Believed that Reconstruction should be used to force political and social reform in the Southern States. A major goal was to gain voting rights for the newly freed slaves. Did not want to readmit Southern States into the Union unless they ratified the 14th amendment.
Solid South Nick-name given to the former Confederate States after Reconstruction because they consistently supported (voted for) the Democratic Party. Lincoln Assassination Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth Lincoln s death allowed the Radical Republicans to control Reconstruction policy. President Andrew Johnson takes over for Lincoln after his assassination. o Supported Lincoln s policy of Reconstruction- wanted to allow the Southern States to reenter the nation as quickly as possible (wanted Southern States back in Congress). o The Radical Republicans in Congress disagreed with Johnson about how to handle Reconstruction, which led to the impeachment of Johnson. Johnson was officially impeached because he fired the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, without Senate approval, but the impeachment failed and Johnson remained in office. Constitutional Amendments During Reconstruction 13th, 14th, 15th were all passed during the Reconstruction Era and showed that Federal powers could be expanded to protect the rights of minorities. o 13th Amendment (1865) Law that formally abolished slavery in the U.S. o 14th Amendment (1868) Law that officially gave citizenship to African Americans and legally protected them under the Bill of Rights and U.S. Constitution. Extends the protections of the Bill of Rights to include actions of state governments. Allowed the National Government to place more restrictions on the actions of state governments. o 15th Amendment (1870) Law that granted African Americans voting rights. Southern States collected poll taxes and required literacy tests in order to keep African Americans from exercising their voting rights. Jim Crow Laws Attempts by state and local governments to restrict the freedoms of African Americans after the end of the Civil War. Led to an increase in violations of the rights of African-Americans. Limited the effectiveness of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. Provided the legal basis for racial segregation in the late 19th century (late 1800 s) U.S. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) o Supreme Court case that upheld the Jim Crow Laws based on the idea that the laws provided separate but equal public facilities for o African Americans. This was based on a narrow interpretation of the 14th amendment. Jim Crow Laws would not be ended until the passage of the Civil Rights Act 1964. Black Codes and the Ku Klux Klan - Attempted to restrict the rights of former slaves and limit the effectiveness of the 14th and 15th amendments. Sharecropping- system of farming most common in Southern States after the Civil War. Large numbers of former slaves earned a living by becoming sharecroppers on Southern farms, keeping them economically dependent on those farms (they still needed the same farms to survive even though they were no longer slaves). New South Term that described changes in the Southern economy. Industrial development and agricultural diversification (growing different types of crops) were encouraged. In the decades following the Civil War, overproduction which led to lowers prices of farm goods, caused economic hardship for farmers. Carpetbaggers- Northerners who moved down South to participate in Reconstruction governments.